UPDATED (3:57 p.m. EDT):
By Deanese Williams-Harris, Carolyn Stein
Chicago Tribune
CHICAGO —A Chicago Fire Department captain has died from injuries he suffered Wednesday morning from a garage fire on the West Side in the Austin neighborhood, fire officials said.
Capt. David Meyer died after the structure at 5505 W. Crystal St. collapsed, officials said.
Captain David Meyer of Truck 29 has died as a result of injuries from a fire this morning on west Crystal. He joined CFD in 1996. He leaves his wife, daughters and a son. Please keep his family in your thoughts. This is a sad day for CFD and Chicago (Langford) pic.twitter.com/Nv8BbiXPC1
— Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) April 23, 2025
Meyer joined the Fire Department in 1996 and was assigned to Truck 29, said department spokesman Larry Langford . He is survived by his wife and daughters, Langford said.
“Please keep his family in your prayers, it’s a sad day for CFD and Chicago,” Langford said in a post on the social platform X.
At a news conference at Stroger Hospital , Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt described the loss as devastating. She said that she previously worked with Meyers.
“When you get a call in the middle or early morning, you don’t wrap your mind around who it is and when I get here and look, I go, ‘Oh, my God, I know him,’” Nance-Holt Said .
“He was a great guy. I heard he was a great builder,” Nance-Holt continued. “He was the rock of his family. His wife shared with me that they had been together since they were 14 years old, and they started dating when they were 15 years old.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson called Meyer’s death a “tremendous loss.”
“I’m asking all the people of Chicago to pray for the Meyer family,” Johnson said. “This is truly a remarkable testament of those who love this city and who are willing to make the or pay the sacrifice to keep us all safe.”
Nanette-Holt said a call came in for a garage fire around 4:03 a.m. The fire was put out and officials were starting salvage and overhaul when the garage collapsed, injuring Meyer.
A mayday alarm was immediately called around 4:18 a.m. and Meyer was transported to Stroger Hospital , where he succumbed to his injuries.
The fire is under investigation, officials said.
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Visit chicagotribune.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
EARLIER:
By Deanese Williams-Harris
Chicago Tribune
CHICAGO — Fire officials said a firefighter was critically injured Wednesday morning battling a structure fire on the West Side in the Austin neighborhood.
A fire broke out early Wednesday morning at a structure located at 5505 W. Crystal St., according to Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.
MAYDAY 5505 west Crystal for FF down in fire structure. Member has been transported to Stroger in critical condition details to follow when possible. (Langford)
— Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) April 23, 2025
A firefighter was taken in critical condition to Stroger Hospital, Langford said.
©2025 Chicago Tribune.
Visit chicagotribune.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
